Guide Books

One really useful tip - if you have time copy the bits you need out of the books. It weighs less and you can dispose of as and when you no longer need the info!!

BATH

not sure on your plans are regarding this but I did find International Friends Tours for overseas visitors to Britain - it may be useful
Also the Travellers toolkit has some useful info including train times etc

Maps etc

Tube Map

Theatre Map

oh remember that the oyster/travel card works on buses and tubes

Security- a cautionary tale

just a word of caution try not to look like a tourist - I know its obvious but if you do you will be targeted by scammers, pick pockets etc. I was, when traveling from the airport to my hotel in Barcelona !! ( I think the suitcases gave us away :) Fortunately we didn't lose anything...........)

Places to Eat

The dollar isn't strong at the moment and eating in London is expensive as well as time consuming, on a short visit I suspect sustenance is the main objective rather than long meals putting the world to rights!

Good food at reasonable prices

Belgo Numerous locations: Covent Garden Website: www.belgo-restaurants.com
Belgian food - the chain is perhaps best know for its mussels and chips (aswell as its enormous selection of beers!). The Covent Garden branch is probably the best one to go to, due to its central location and its interesting cavern-like dining area. Excellent value during lunchtime - The Lunchtime Express (12pm - 5.30pm) Monday to Friday when a set menu lunch is only £6.50, or during the "Beat the Clock" offer where you pay according to the time that you arrived - e.g. pay £6.10 if you arrived at 6.10pm. The times that this offer is valid vary from restaurant to restaurant - in the Convent Garden one it runs from 5pm to 6.30pm. An example set menu is a large plate of mussels, plate of chips and a beer - very filling!

Wagamama Numerous locations: 16 branches in Kensington, Knightsbridge Bloomsbury, Soho, Convent Garden, Leicester Sq. and other Website: www.wagamama.com
This super-styled canteen-style chain of restaurants serve Asian food, mainly ramen, noodle and rice dishes. Good value (e.g. the very filling chicken ramen is only £7.15) and very efficient service means that there is a high turnover of customers, so even if you find yourself queuing, you will not have to wait for long.

"New to wagamama? -

at wagamama we believe food should be cooked fresh to order.
this means individual selections of your side dishes and main
meals may be delivered at different times. if you need further
assistance feel free to ask one of our servers
if you have a particular dietary requirement your server will be
happy to assist you. please note that we can take some items out
of dishes, however we cannot add any items in"

Yo Sushi! Numerous locations: 11 branches - Soho, Harrods, Selfridges Website: www.yosushi.com
Another conveyor-belt sushi place with colour-coded plates, priced £1.70 to £5.00, the food is of pretty good standard. Hip and trendy, you sit on high stools at counters where taps allow you to pour your own water, whilst pushing a button draws the attention of the wait staff (and also makes amusing noises). There's also sometimes a drinks "robot" (i.e. a small thing carrying drinks circling the restaurant).

Filtered Water, Miso Soup and Japanese Green Tea are unlimited offers i.e pay once refills are free

Current special offers Blue Mondays - £2.20 for selected plates

Sandwich Chains/Cafes

The popularity of coffee houses has really taken off in the UK in the last decade or so, and you'll see them everywhere in London. Whatever area you are in, you're not be far from a Starbucks, Cafe Nero or Coffee Republic, probably three of the most prolific chains. Of course, that doesn't mean they're good value! Prices can be notoriously high - after all, it's just a cup of coffee!

A well-known sandwich chain in London is Pret a Manger, which has numerous chains all over London. Again, sandwiches are a little on the expensive side (about £2 for the cheapest one I can't varify this ath the moment.........) but they are quite generously filled and are freshly-made of the premises every day. They also sell sushi, snacks (crisps, popcorn) juice, wraps, pastries and coffee.

All restaurants charge VAT (17.5%) on top of the cost of your items if you eat in, so for a cheaper option get your food to take out and enjoy it in a nice park!

AVOID AT ALL COSTS.............................. Fast food restaurants are not the same in the UK if you ever eat Macdonalds, Burger King etc DON'T ! - The prices are inflated and the food is shrunk. I think the only one that produces reasonable food quality is Subway (I have never tried so this is not a personal recommendation!)

Eating in restaurants is a very individual thing so here are a few restaurant guides:

Best London Restaurants

London Online

Chowhound - this is a blog so has a more personal approach

New York Times

Transport

It is economical to buy a one day travel pass this will give you access to the bus and underground in London.
these links have the info:
Oyster card
Travellers toolkit

THINGS TO DO

St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival - March 16 2008

The St Patrick's Day Parade will again see marching bands from all 32 Irish counties as well as representation from London Irish community, other community groups, sports cubs, schools. All these as well as street theatre performers will take to the streets of central London for a fun filled family spectacle.

Starting from Park Lane at noon, the parade moves off along Piccadilly, Lower Regent Street, Pall Mall East, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall before dispersing on Whitehall Place.

As well as the Parade itself, London will play host to an Irish festival for the day! At Trafalgar Square there will be a stage showcasing the best of Irish music and dance, from traditional to contemporary and the largest Irish travel exhibition in Britain. Covent Garden will come alive with a food market bursting with a wide range of Ireland’s finest food and drink. Leicester Square will host a giant Ceili where dancers of all ages and ability can come together and enjoy a lively afternoon of traditional Irish dancing.

This is always a great, good-humoured and fun day out for all the family.

Terracotta Army at the British Museum – buy tickets on the day

Tutankhamun Exhibit at the O2 Bubble

Walks around London Street Markets – she also does a night prowl – with pub stops!

The London Eye

Theatre

some shows that are on at the moment are:-

Blood Brothers

Les Miserables wow this sight has sound effects - cool

Pygmailion

Absurd Person Singular - An Alan Ackbourne Play (some quality actors in this show)

Stomp

further suggestions can be found here

Tickets can be purchased from lastminute.com at good prices a sample would be

National Portrait Gallery has an Exhibition of Vanity Fair Portraits 1913-2008


this should get you started I will list a few eateries in a while anything that you can think of that you would like me to check send me a comment

Safe journey to you all